Colorado, you've done it. I'm in love with America again.
* * *
Departed Denver, CO (via train) - approx. 9:30am (MST), Weds, 28 July.
Arrived Sacramento, CA - approx. 3:30pm (PST), Thurs, 29 July.
About two hours into my train ride from Denver, I entered and then emerged from the longest tunnel I've ever been in. It was 22 miles long, took about 10 minutes to pass through, at the highest point climbed to an elevation of 9302 ft. and passed underneath the continental divide.
This means that, within *two* days, I have now crossed *over* AND *under* the Great Divide!
* * *
Not much to say about Sacramento, except that it contains the absolute friendliest HI hostel I have ever set foot in, and possibly the most delicious thai food restaurant in all of California. Thank you, guy behind the hostel counter, for your incredibly awesome hospitality, genuine friendliness and relevant advice.
Sitting here now the hostel lounge room, writing this post, getting ready to get on my train to Eugene(!) which departs at midnight tonight.
Onwards!
29 July 2010
26 July, Mon: Day 3...
...of my cross country journey and I have climbed to a peak where a 100 year old mining cabin sits, traversed over 1000 miles, slept in a hammock suspended over a river at over 10,000 feet (elev.), seen some of the most beautiful land formations on the earth, saw some of the devastating effects of the mountain pine beetle, picked and eaten wild strawberries, cooked and eaten in a communal outdoor kitchen, slept in a teepee, peed in a teepee, (different teepees) washed my clothes in a river, thought I spotted a bear in the woods at night (but, it wasn't really a bear after all...more likely a moose or deer...c'mon, it was dark...), cheered on a couple of crazy guys skateboarding down the side of a mountain, visited the ridge of the continental divide, made some wonderful new friends, created more memories with some wonderful old ones, staged a super overdramatic photoshoot by campfire and consumed the most giant roasted marshmallow my jaw has ever seen. And that was just two days in Colorado...Whew!
16 July 2010
Where I'm headed...
As you may, or may not, already know, this has been a year full of extreme change for me. Within the last year, I spent 5 amazing months in Thailand, (the majority of that time spent volunteering with the Panya Project in rural northern Thailand) and the remainder of that time in Australia meeting and working with some very inspiring people involved with these organizations: Friends of the Earth and CERES, to name just a couple.
I returned to Melbourne from Thailand at the end of March for about a month, primarily to pack up and move out; a bittersweet ending to an extraordinary 2.5 year journey there. At the end of April, I began a slow re-integration back to the states, starting with the southern coast of California and a beautiful road trip through California, Arizona, and New Mexico. After taking a train trip from Santa Fe, New Mexico back to Chicago in early May I now find myself here, deliberating on what's next...
***
My recent time spent working with various volunteer organizations in Australia and Thailand have had a huge impact on me, and I find myself thinking about the world a little differently now than I used to. My perspective on what I want to do with my life, and how I want to live it, has shifted.
Over the last few years I have become aware of some profoundly transformational things going on in the regional areas where I was living and visiting. I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to meet and be involved with such incredibly inspiring individuals and networks of people who are taking action by thinking far outside of the box, and doing thoughtful, healing things for this planet.
I've seen and experienced examples of successful, functioning, eco-concious communities in rural and urban settings. I've participated in planting, harvesting and being sustained by home grown, organic food in a city of over 4 million people. I've lived (happily) for over the last 3 years, basically car free, getting from place to place by biking, walking or public transiting. I've discovered the immense value of a regular meditation practice for myself...(to name a few).
As a result of these shifts in my life, my experience of living is much less stressful, and way more aware. I found this type of lifestyle to be relatively easy to maintain in Melbourne. However, now that I'm back in the states, I am eager to find the places in *this* country where this similar kind of lifestyle exists.
So, I've decided to go on a self organized, self titled: "Beyond Sustainability Bicycle Tour of North America"...
* * *
Here are some questions I've received about this journey thus far:
I know that you made this term up, but what is a "Beyond Sustainability Bicycle Tour"? What does that mean?
As stated above, in the last three years, I've watched and interacted with people who have made the choice to and are living healthy, fulfilled, enriched lives, consuming few resources and who have come up with with creative ways to live outside the box. I've been greatly inspired by these people and want to challenge myself to live outside of my own comfortable box and test my limits. So, I will be traveling as much as possible by sustainable means (ie. absolutely no air travel) and living primarily off of what I bring with me on my bicycle. I anticipate this journey will also push me to many of my own physical, mental and emotional limits, and nudge me to go even a bit further. Through this process, I hope to discover how to live healthily within these limits, and then go beyond them, without depleting my own resources. I'm looking for new ways to live in all senses, not just sustainably, but regeneratively.
Where are you starting, and when? And then where are you headed from there?
I'll be leaving Chicago on Saturday, 24 July, with all of my gear, and heading out to Colorado with a couple of good friends for a few days. From there, my actual bike journey will begin with an organized ride facilitated by Common Circle Education, starting on 31 July.
At the moment (and this is subject to change, at *any* moment) my rough (very rough) plan is to head north, following the tour in Eugene, and travel up through Washington and perhaps a bit into Canada. Then, as the seasons get chillier, head south, to southern California, and possibly even Mexico! I plan to visit many friends, family, farms, eco-villages and communities along the way. (If you have any ideas of places I can't miss, or people I should definitely meet, please let me know! I'm *very* open to suggestions!)
How long will you stay in any one area?
I have no idea. Maybe I'll find some place along the way, just two months in that really fits and decide my mobile journey has come to an end for the time being. Maybe I'll be on the road for an entire year. Who knows what will happen? That's what the discovery is about! I *do* very much intend to post details about when and where I'm at and when and where I'm moving to, when I do.
How are you getting from place to place?
By way of a combination of biking, hiking, train, bus and car travel. (And maybe a ferry or two here or there if I need to get to any islands, such as: Orcas Island or Vancouver Island) This is not intended as a "strictly bike only" journey, but more to raise awareness for the different modes of transportation we have available to us and the viability of each. And, of course, as a personal challenge for myself.
Have you trained for this ride?
Yes and no. I *love* biking. I did a lot of it when I was living in Melbourne (I chose not to have a car there), and have found that, even being back in a big city that is not quite as bike friendly, it is hands down my preferred method of travel. I have been bike, foot and public transit bound for the last few years, but certainly not *every single day* on a bike during those years.
So. Will I be able to keep up with someone who is a seasoned long haul rider who trains for months and months before every ride? Most definitely not. But I don't need to. I've designed this trip to be for me to discover my own limits at my own pace.
The encouraging thing I've learned and heard from talking with many people who have done rides like these in the past (or who are currently *on* one of these rides right now) is that training happens along the way. Starting out slow, respecting my limits and really paying attention to when my body needs a break builds up strength and endurance very quickly.
However, what I *do* plan to do is get my bike loaded up with all of my gear (as soon as I have it all!) and go on as many practice rides as I can before heading out on the 24th of this month. Mostly to get used to how the extra weight balance feels, how fast I can go, what it feels like to turn and stop with 30 - 50lbs of extra weight attached to me...etc.
I'm very excited about this challenge I've laid out for myself, and am sure there will be *many* things to learn along the way.
To me, biking *is* my way of getting around. I'll take a car if I absolutely must, but I really don't enjoy it all that much, and end up feeling regretful most of the time when I'm in one.
How long will you be on the move?
As stated above, maybe only 2 months...most likely around a year. It all depends on what I discover and where I am drawn to eventually settle. Aaaand, how quickly my wanderlust and curiosity subsides...which I've found in the past, is pretty much insatiable. So! We'll see!
How are you going to fund this?
From personal savings I've built up over the last few years, a generous donation from my former partner, close friend and remarkable person, Zach, (thank you, Zach. I literally could not have done this without you), AND the positive, grounded encouragement from all of you. (Optimistic, supportive currency goes a LONG way...trust me!)
What are you going to DO with all of the new found skills, education and information you've gathered in the last few years?
Honestly, at this point, I'm not quite sure. And I'm very much ok with that. I feel like I'm at a point in my life where I've come to a fork in the road and the fork has *many* tines. I've been reveling in and enjoying this place where I can take the time I need to explore all the options, continue my education, build on my new found skills and let it all fall into place when it does. I have *ideas* of what I might like to do in the future (ie. permaculture design consulting and teaching), but I'm not yet at a place where I feel like that can or needs to be decided.
Are you going alone?
I am heading out on my own and do hope to get some serious processing time and solace during my rides, but that doesn't mean I don't want company along the way! If I'm riding through your area, or if you'd simply like to join me at any point during this journey, please let me know! I would love it!
Do you plan to record this journey in any way?
Yes. I'll definitely be blogging, twittering and GPSmapping as I go. At the very least, I aim to relay my daily travel distances, money spent and inspiring things experienced along the way.
Can I contact you while you're on the road?
Yes. I will have my mobile phone with me, and it will work wherever there is cell phone reception. However, in order to conserve battery life and minutes (as I'll likely switch to a "per usage" plan) my phone may be off for many hours at a time during my rides. I will be using it much less for texting and phone calls and more for emergency use and GPS locating. I will, however, have internet service pretty much the entire time I'll be traveling. So, feel free to email me at this address as often as you'd like!
Where are you going to sleep?
Here's where *you* lovely people come in! I plan and hope to stay with friends and family along the way. In places where I don't already know people, I will be camping (with my awesome Hennessy Hammock!) or hostelling. Also! I am a brand new member of couchsurfing.org! If you are a member too, and want to become my couch surfin friend and/or "vouch" for me, that would be super fantastic!
(So, all that said, uh...do you mind if I crash on your couch/in your bathtub/out in your backyard when I'm passing through your town?)
Why are you doing this?
My experiences in the last few years have unfolded into a significant internal discovery and change process which has lead me to this point. At the risk of sounding a bit cliche, I've truly been inspired to *be* the change I want to see in this world. I feel empowered, grateful, humbled and without fear.
I am doing this to challenge myself, physically, mentally, emotionally and financially. To find new ways of accepting myself and others. To seek out more ways to live with an ever smaller footprint. To educate myself. To discover if there is a physical "place" along the way that calls for me to settle (either temporarily or permanently). To get the space and distance I feel I need to expand and grow. To rediscover and fall in love with America again.
Simply, I LOVE being outside. I feel happy, fresh, creative, connected, joyous, calm, centered and peaceful when I am outside. For much of the time I was in Thailand, there was little visual or actual separation between "inside" and "outside". This is *definitely* my preferred method of living. The less separation there is with our daily lives and the "outside" world, the more we realize we are actually *part* of the natural world, not something other from it.
Additionally, this trip has been partially inspired by these two amazing people who I met while on the farm at Panya: Chris Roach and Hannah Perkins. Thank you both for your inspiring stories and reassuring words!
Do you have insurance?
Yes. Yes I do. My bodily self will be well covered in the event of emergency or injury.
Does your Mother know about this?
Yes. Mom knows. And, while she has expressed some *completely valid and understandable* motherly concerns about this trip, she has also been incredibly supportive. Thank you, Mom. I love you.
And, wherever you are in the world, I wish you well and hope to cross paths with you again soon...or for the very first time!
* * *
Keep up with my movements and progress here:
Visuals: http://www.flickr.com/photos/meggyn/
Words: http://meggyn.livejournal.com/
Snippets: http://twitter.com/meagenma
Networks: http://www.facebook.com/meagenma
I returned to Melbourne from Thailand at the end of March for about a month, primarily to pack up and move out; a bittersweet ending to an extraordinary 2.5 year journey there. At the end of April, I began a slow re-integration back to the states, starting with the southern coast of California and a beautiful road trip through California, Arizona, and New Mexico. After taking a train trip from Santa Fe, New Mexico back to Chicago in early May I now find myself here, deliberating on what's next...
***
My recent time spent working with various volunteer organizations in Australia and Thailand have had a huge impact on me, and I find myself thinking about the world a little differently now than I used to. My perspective on what I want to do with my life, and how I want to live it, has shifted.
Over the last few years I have become aware of some profoundly transformational things going on in the regional areas where I was living and visiting. I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to meet and be involved with such incredibly inspiring individuals and networks of people who are taking action by thinking far outside of the box, and doing thoughtful, healing things for this planet.
I've seen and experienced examples of successful, functioning, eco-concious communities in rural and urban settings. I've participated in planting, harvesting and being sustained by home grown, organic food in a city of over 4 million people. I've lived (happily) for over the last 3 years, basically car free, getting from place to place by biking, walking or public transiting. I've discovered the immense value of a regular meditation practice for myself...(to name a few).
As a result of these shifts in my life, my experience of living is much less stressful, and way more aware. I found this type of lifestyle to be relatively easy to maintain in Melbourne. However, now that I'm back in the states, I am eager to find the places in *this* country where this similar kind of lifestyle exists.
So, I've decided to go on a self organized, self titled: "Beyond Sustainability Bicycle Tour of North America"...
* * *
Here are some questions I've received about this journey thus far:
I know that you made this term up, but what is a "Beyond Sustainability Bicycle Tour"? What does that mean?
As stated above, in the last three years, I've watched and interacted with people who have made the choice to and are living healthy, fulfilled, enriched lives, consuming few resources and who have come up with with creative ways to live outside the box. I've been greatly inspired by these people and want to challenge myself to live outside of my own comfortable box and test my limits. So, I will be traveling as much as possible by sustainable means (ie. absolutely no air travel) and living primarily off of what I bring with me on my bicycle. I anticipate this journey will also push me to many of my own physical, mental and emotional limits, and nudge me to go even a bit further. Through this process, I hope to discover how to live healthily within these limits, and then go beyond them, without depleting my own resources. I'm looking for new ways to live in all senses, not just sustainably, but regeneratively.
Where are you starting, and when? And then where are you headed from there?
I'll be leaving Chicago on Saturday, 24 July, with all of my gear, and heading out to Colorado with a couple of good friends for a few days. From there, my actual bike journey will begin with an organized ride facilitated by Common Circle Education, starting on 31 July.
At the moment (and this is subject to change, at *any* moment) my rough (very rough) plan is to head north, following the tour in Eugene, and travel up through Washington and perhaps a bit into Canada. Then, as the seasons get chillier, head south, to southern California, and possibly even Mexico! I plan to visit many friends, family, farms, eco-villages and communities along the way. (If you have any ideas of places I can't miss, or people I should definitely meet, please let me know! I'm *very* open to suggestions!)
How long will you stay in any one area?
I have no idea. Maybe I'll find some place along the way, just two months in that really fits and decide my mobile journey has come to an end for the time being. Maybe I'll be on the road for an entire year. Who knows what will happen? That's what the discovery is about! I *do* very much intend to post details about when and where I'm at and when and where I'm moving to, when I do.
How are you getting from place to place?
By way of a combination of biking, hiking, train, bus and car travel. (And maybe a ferry or two here or there if I need to get to any islands, such as: Orcas Island or Vancouver Island) This is not intended as a "strictly bike only" journey, but more to raise awareness for the different modes of transportation we have available to us and the viability of each. And, of course, as a personal challenge for myself.
Have you trained for this ride?
Yes and no. I *love* biking. I did a lot of it when I was living in Melbourne (I chose not to have a car there), and have found that, even being back in a big city that is not quite as bike friendly, it is hands down my preferred method of travel. I have been bike, foot and public transit bound for the last few years, but certainly not *every single day* on a bike during those years.
So. Will I be able to keep up with someone who is a seasoned long haul rider who trains for months and months before every ride? Most definitely not. But I don't need to. I've designed this trip to be for me to discover my own limits at my own pace.
The encouraging thing I've learned and heard from talking with many people who have done rides like these in the past (or who are currently *on* one of these rides right now) is that training happens along the way. Starting out slow, respecting my limits and really paying attention to when my body needs a break builds up strength and endurance very quickly.
However, what I *do* plan to do is get my bike loaded up with all of my gear (as soon as I have it all!) and go on as many practice rides as I can before heading out on the 24th of this month. Mostly to get used to how the extra weight balance feels, how fast I can go, what it feels like to turn and stop with 30 - 50lbs of extra weight attached to me...etc.
I'm very excited about this challenge I've laid out for myself, and am sure there will be *many* things to learn along the way.
To me, biking *is* my way of getting around. I'll take a car if I absolutely must, but I really don't enjoy it all that much, and end up feeling regretful most of the time when I'm in one.
How long will you be on the move?
As stated above, maybe only 2 months...most likely around a year. It all depends on what I discover and where I am drawn to eventually settle. Aaaand, how quickly my wanderlust and curiosity subsides...which I've found in the past, is pretty much insatiable. So! We'll see!
How are you going to fund this?
From personal savings I've built up over the last few years, a generous donation from my former partner, close friend and remarkable person, Zach, (thank you, Zach. I literally could not have done this without you), AND the positive, grounded encouragement from all of you. (Optimistic, supportive currency goes a LONG way...trust me!)
What are you going to DO with all of the new found skills, education and information you've gathered in the last few years?
Honestly, at this point, I'm not quite sure. And I'm very much ok with that. I feel like I'm at a point in my life where I've come to a fork in the road and the fork has *many* tines. I've been reveling in and enjoying this place where I can take the time I need to explore all the options, continue my education, build on my new found skills and let it all fall into place when it does. I have *ideas* of what I might like to do in the future (ie. permaculture design consulting and teaching), but I'm not yet at a place where I feel like that can or needs to be decided.
Are you going alone?
I am heading out on my own and do hope to get some serious processing time and solace during my rides, but that doesn't mean I don't want company along the way! If I'm riding through your area, or if you'd simply like to join me at any point during this journey, please let me know! I would love it!
Do you plan to record this journey in any way?
Yes. I'll definitely be blogging, twittering and GPSmapping as I go. At the very least, I aim to relay my daily travel distances, money spent and inspiring things experienced along the way.
Can I contact you while you're on the road?
Yes. I will have my mobile phone with me, and it will work wherever there is cell phone reception. However, in order to conserve battery life and minutes (as I'll likely switch to a "per usage" plan) my phone may be off for many hours at a time during my rides. I will be using it much less for texting and phone calls and more for emergency use and GPS locating. I will, however, have internet service pretty much the entire time I'll be traveling. So, feel free to email me at this address as often as you'd like!
Where are you going to sleep?
Here's where *you* lovely people come in! I plan and hope to stay with friends and family along the way. In places where I don't already know people, I will be camping (with my awesome Hennessy Hammock!) or hostelling. Also! I am a brand new member of couchsurfing.org! If you are a member too, and want to become my couch surfin friend and/or "vouch" for me, that would be super fantastic!
(So, all that said, uh...do you mind if I crash on your couch/in your bathtub/out in your backyard when I'm passing through your town?)
Why are you doing this?
My experiences in the last few years have unfolded into a significant internal discovery and change process which has lead me to this point. At the risk of sounding a bit cliche, I've truly been inspired to *be* the change I want to see in this world. I feel empowered, grateful, humbled and without fear.
I am doing this to challenge myself, physically, mentally, emotionally and financially. To find new ways of accepting myself and others. To seek out more ways to live with an ever smaller footprint. To educate myself. To discover if there is a physical "place" along the way that calls for me to settle (either temporarily or permanently). To get the space and distance I feel I need to expand and grow. To rediscover and fall in love with America again.
Simply, I LOVE being outside. I feel happy, fresh, creative, connected, joyous, calm, centered and peaceful when I am outside. For much of the time I was in Thailand, there was little visual or actual separation between "inside" and "outside". This is *definitely* my preferred method of living. The less separation there is with our daily lives and the "outside" world, the more we realize we are actually *part* of the natural world, not something other from it.
Additionally, this trip has been partially inspired by these two amazing people who I met while on the farm at Panya: Chris Roach and Hannah Perkins. Thank you both for your inspiring stories and reassuring words!
Do you have insurance?
Yes. Yes I do. My bodily self will be well covered in the event of emergency or injury.
Does your Mother know about this?
Yes. Mom knows. And, while she has expressed some *completely valid and understandable* motherly concerns about this trip, she has also been incredibly supportive. Thank you, Mom. I love you.
And, wherever you are in the world, I wish you well and hope to cross paths with you again soon...or for the very first time!
* * *
Keep up with my movements and progress here:
Visuals: http://www.flickr.com/photos/
Words: http://meggyn.livejournal.com/
Snippets: http://twitter.com/meagenma
Networks: http://www.facebook.com/
27 January 2010
predatory arthropods and hot hot heat
Yesterday: Stung by a scorpion. (non-lethal. obviously.)
Today: Cured bamboo with a blow torch all afternoon.
- - -
Life is never boring around here.
Today: Cured bamboo with a blow torch all afternoon.
- - -
Life is never boring around here.
18 January 2010
The past 4 1/2 weeks...
...have been completely and utterly non-stop. Which, on one level is fantastic! I'm in a space of constant learning and processing about life, love, relationships, permaculture, people, community, the world, compost, building, gardening, teaching, etc...and am eager to keep learning more.
While on one hand, the last two and a half months have been filled with a plethora of *amazing* experiences and it has felt SO good to have my brain be once again in sponge mode, I've also been finding it really difficult to keep balanced with the varied and numerous contradictions embedded in the lifestyle here.
For example:
-living and experiencing vs. recording and relaying (note my inability to keep up with this blog as often as I'd hoped!)
-community contribution/responsibility vs. personal/healing time
-working on community projects vs. personal projects/goals
-physical/mental exertion vs. getting enough rest
-craving more hands on experience vs. my actual energy levels and role at panya
-desire for stability and consistency vs. the ever transient nature of life on the farm
-desire for daily routine vs. strong desire for flexibility
thinking about what's next vs. truly living and cherishing every moment as it happens (future vs. now)
-planning vs. doing
...to name just a few.
* * *
So! I've been chillin in Chiang Mai for the past 9 days, primarily to take a break from all of the goings on, and hopefully to gain some clarity and peace on some of these issues that I feel have recently limited my ability to truly just enjoy where I'm at and what I'm doing.
I keep forgetting that probably the reason I'm feeling overwhelmed right now is because there *is* so much stuff that's been happening, and happening so fast that I'm having a really difficult time processing it all. I also seem to need a lot more time to myself than any of the other long term volunteers in the community. Although they have all been incredibly supportive and patient with me about it, I still find it to be a tremendous personal challenge in regards to living successfully in community.
So, anyway...About "all this stuff that's been happening..." Here's some of the highlights (starting with the most recent events first):
Motu Proprio: Watch this (amazing) 10 minute teaser for the full length film by Ahooha below. The Thai man you hear talking in the beginning is Jon Jandai, the founder of Pun Pun, one of the closely linked, neighboring communities to Panya and organizer of the Living Seeds Festival (which I'll talk a little bit more about later). Christian Shearer, the founder of Panya, also speaks many words of beauty and wisdom in the film.
I think it is so exciting and encouraging that this film is being made. Not only has it been masterfully created, it expresses in such an honest, empowering and graceful way how this type of alternative living can be possible and successful.
If any of you have been curious about the philosophy behind why I've chosen to come out here and live on this farm for months with this community and learn how to live a fully engaged permaculture lifestyle, this teaser does a pretty darn good job of explaining it:
Other films I've been watching and highly recommend:
The Age of Stupid (with Pete Postlethwaite)
Food, Inc. (with Michael Pollan and Joel Salatin of Polyface, Inc.)
The Coconut Revolution (amazing, amazing film about community and self reliance)
Garbage Warrior
Haven't seen yet, but plan to very soon:
The Future of Food
The Story of Stuff
The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil
The Real Dirt on Farmer John(true story of a farmer in Illinois!)
What the Bleep Do We Know?
Other Visuals: Here's some photos of recent happenings at Panya and nearby:
Panya Holiday Celebration
Living Seeds Festival (mentioned above, organized by Pun Pun. Here is a short article on the Permaculture Research Institute website about it! I had a really great time at the festival. It was the first time it had ever been put on, and was a total success!)
December Permaculture Course
Border Run to Burma (for my 90 day visa renewal)
Life at Panya (updated photos in here too, showing progress on new, natural buildings going up on site, peanut harvesting, thanksgiving...among other fun stuffs...)
Some Random Videos! (don't forget to read the captions!)
Other Stuff: Another thrilling thing for me over the last 2 months is that I've kindly been given the repeated opportunity (by the instructors of the building courses - Geoffroy and Greg - and Permaculture Course - Christian and Richard) to teach a session in each course on drafting and design. This has been such an amazing learning experience for me, and also extremely challenging. I aim to one day (in the not too distant future!) teach full permaculture courses, and it's so wonderful to have been able to start here. To all of you who are, or ever have been a teacher, thank you. I now have a slightly deeper understanding of the complexities involved with this job. You inspire me so!
My Role at Panya: Yet another thing that's been keeping me busy at Panya is the role I've taken on as visitor/volunteer coordinator. What this entails is greeting, essentially, *everyone* who comes to visit, whether it be for a day, a course or short/long term volunteering...get them settled in and feeling comfortable and giving a tour of the property. The property tours have been a great learning experience for me as it allows me to get to know the land better and better each time and teaches me what I don't know and still have to learn about the various aspects of the farm. Another responsibility I have in this role is checking/responding to emails from people wanting to visit and come for courses. This is pretty cool because I get to see every day more and more people learning about and eager to come visit Panya (which is awesome!)...however, it does tend to conflict with my personal desire to be on the computer/internet less and less. Like I said before, it's all about balance. I just haven't quite found it yet.
Learning Thai!: Something I've been very excited about in having so much time here on this trip is the opportunity to learn to speak, read and write better Thai. It's *such* an interesting language and I'm loving every minute of learning it. Within the last few weeks, one of the members of Pun Pun and I set up an informal language exchange, and have met once already to try to teach each other our respective languages. It's really cool on so many levels, especially because it's given me the opportunity to interact with and get to know their community a little bit more. And, it's super fun.
Wow! I feel as though I've only scratched the surface of the massive multitude of things that have been going on here in the last couple of months! I haven't even touched on the kombucha making (Maggs, that book you gave me has *definitely* been cherished and used lots around here! Thank you so much!), my furniture design/building project, vermicomposting, things learned for effective other methods of composting, my experience volunteering with Makhampom (back in November...), the incredible experience and sobering stories told by the people who came to visit from the NGO-NEED Burma, my bike ride though the village where I briefly witnessed a live cock fight in progress (weird and sad), building a traditional thai style haystack with Kae, Shelly and Will, the incredibly powerful and transformative 5 Rhythms dance night experience, the even more powerful and transformative EFT experiences I had during the PDC, the deeply moving and mind expanding conversations had during the World Cafe scenario night...But! I feel as though I should stop here for now (for your sake, and mine!) and try my best to *really* send smaller updates, more often.
I'm starting to sound like a broken record, aren't I?
Anyway, in a nutshell: things are amazing and intense and hard and fun and more full-on than I ever could have imagined...
Wishing much love to you and hoping all is wonderful in your worlds!
Thanks for taking the time to read this..!
While on one hand, the last two and a half months have been filled with a plethora of *amazing* experiences and it has felt SO good to have my brain be once again in sponge mode, I've also been finding it really difficult to keep balanced with the varied and numerous contradictions embedded in the lifestyle here.
For example:
-living and experiencing vs. recording and relaying (note my inability to keep up with this blog as often as I'd hoped!)
-community contribution/responsibility vs. personal/healing time
-working on community projects vs. personal projects/goals
-physical/mental exertion vs. getting enough rest
-craving more hands on experience vs. my actual energy levels and role at panya
-desire for stability and consistency vs. the ever transient nature of life on the farm
-desire for daily routine vs. strong desire for flexibility
thinking about what's next vs. truly living and cherishing every moment as it happens (future vs. now)
-planning vs. doing
...to name just a few.
* * *
So! I've been chillin in Chiang Mai for the past 9 days, primarily to take a break from all of the goings on, and hopefully to gain some clarity and peace on some of these issues that I feel have recently limited my ability to truly just enjoy where I'm at and what I'm doing.
I keep forgetting that probably the reason I'm feeling overwhelmed right now is because there *is* so much stuff that's been happening, and happening so fast that I'm having a really difficult time processing it all. I also seem to need a lot more time to myself than any of the other long term volunteers in the community. Although they have all been incredibly supportive and patient with me about it, I still find it to be a tremendous personal challenge in regards to living successfully in community.
So, anyway...About "all this stuff that's been happening..." Here's some of the highlights (starting with the most recent events first):
Motu Proprio: Watch this (amazing) 10 minute teaser for the full length film by Ahooha below. The Thai man you hear talking in the beginning is Jon Jandai, the founder of Pun Pun, one of the closely linked, neighboring communities to Panya and organizer of the Living Seeds Festival (which I'll talk a little bit more about later). Christian Shearer, the founder of Panya, also speaks many words of beauty and wisdom in the film.
I think it is so exciting and encouraging that this film is being made. Not only has it been masterfully created, it expresses in such an honest, empowering and graceful way how this type of alternative living can be possible and successful.
If any of you have been curious about the philosophy behind why I've chosen to come out here and live on this farm for months with this community and learn how to live a fully engaged permaculture lifestyle, this teaser does a pretty darn good job of explaining it:
Other films I've been watching and highly recommend:
The Age of Stupid (with Pete Postlethwaite)
Food, Inc. (with Michael Pollan and Joel Salatin of Polyface, Inc.)
The Coconut Revolution (amazing, amazing film about community and self reliance)
Garbage Warrior
Haven't seen yet, but plan to very soon:
The Future of Food
The Story of Stuff
The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil
The Real Dirt on Farmer John(true story of a farmer in Illinois!)
What the Bleep Do We Know?
Other Visuals: Here's some photos of recent happenings at Panya and nearby:
Panya Holiday Celebration
Living Seeds Festival (mentioned above, organized by Pun Pun. Here is a short article on the Permaculture Research Institute website about it! I had a really great time at the festival. It was the first time it had ever been put on, and was a total success!)
December Permaculture Course
Border Run to Burma (for my 90 day visa renewal)
Life at Panya (updated photos in here too, showing progress on new, natural buildings going up on site, peanut harvesting, thanksgiving...among other fun stuffs...)
Some Random Videos! (don't forget to read the captions!)
Other Stuff: Another thrilling thing for me over the last 2 months is that I've kindly been given the repeated opportunity (by the instructors of the building courses - Geoffroy and Greg - and Permaculture Course - Christian and Richard) to teach a session in each course on drafting and design. This has been such an amazing learning experience for me, and also extremely challenging. I aim to one day (in the not too distant future!) teach full permaculture courses, and it's so wonderful to have been able to start here. To all of you who are, or ever have been a teacher, thank you. I now have a slightly deeper understanding of the complexities involved with this job. You inspire me so!
My Role at Panya: Yet another thing that's been keeping me busy at Panya is the role I've taken on as visitor/volunteer coordinator. What this entails is greeting, essentially, *everyone* who comes to visit, whether it be for a day, a course or short/long term volunteering...get them settled in and feeling comfortable and giving a tour of the property. The property tours have been a great learning experience for me as it allows me to get to know the land better and better each time and teaches me what I don't know and still have to learn about the various aspects of the farm. Another responsibility I have in this role is checking/responding to emails from people wanting to visit and come for courses. This is pretty cool because I get to see every day more and more people learning about and eager to come visit Panya (which is awesome!)...however, it does tend to conflict with my personal desire to be on the computer/internet less and less. Like I said before, it's all about balance. I just haven't quite found it yet.
Learning Thai!: Something I've been very excited about in having so much time here on this trip is the opportunity to learn to speak, read and write better Thai. It's *such* an interesting language and I'm loving every minute of learning it. Within the last few weeks, one of the members of Pun Pun and I set up an informal language exchange, and have met once already to try to teach each other our respective languages. It's really cool on so many levels, especially because it's given me the opportunity to interact with and get to know their community a little bit more. And, it's super fun.
Wow! I feel as though I've only scratched the surface of the massive multitude of things that have been going on here in the last couple of months! I haven't even touched on the kombucha making (Maggs, that book you gave me has *definitely* been cherished and used lots around here! Thank you so much!), my furniture design/building project, vermicomposting, things learned for effective other methods of composting, my experience volunteering with Makhampom (back in November...), the incredible experience and sobering stories told by the people who came to visit from the NGO-NEED Burma, my bike ride though the village where I briefly witnessed a live cock fight in progress (weird and sad), building a traditional thai style haystack with Kae, Shelly and Will, the incredibly powerful and transformative 5 Rhythms dance night experience, the even more powerful and transformative EFT experiences I had during the PDC, the deeply moving and mind expanding conversations had during the World Cafe scenario night...But! I feel as though I should stop here for now (for your sake, and mine!) and try my best to *really* send smaller updates, more often.
I'm starting to sound like a broken record, aren't I?
Anyway, in a nutshell: things are amazing and intense and hard and fun and more full-on than I ever could have imagined...
Wishing much love to you and hoping all is wonderful in your worlds!
Thanks for taking the time to read this..!
12 December 2009
The State of My Union
WOW! Life has been SO full on for me here in the last 2 ½ weeks... At this moment, I am writing on day 5 of a severely intense cold/flu that has completely knocked me out. Unfortunately, just about everyone here seems to be susceptible and slowly coming down with it...however, I seem to be the only one who is really struggling with the incredible energy drain. However, I have been having some pretty intense emotional breakthroughs over the last week which have probably contributed greatly to my constant lack of physical energy while healing. I decided last night, in an effort to really try to get things moving and eject the remaining toxins out of my body – because I feel my energy just being stuck (and, although the food here is really really amazing), to fast until tonight's dinner. I skipped dinner last night (wasn't really that hungry anyway) and skipped breakfast and lunch today...focusing on liquid, liquid, liquid, and perhaps a small amount of really liquidy fruit if needed. I've noticed that I've been eating more out of habit these last few days, (oh, and did I mention that the food is outstandingly, constantly delicious...?) as opposed to eating because I'm actually hungry. So, I'm really trying to listen to what my body is asking and focus on seriously catering to those needs. Also, through this process, learning again a really important lesson in patience. I usually consider myself a relatively patient person, but when I get sick, all that patience I practice seems to fly, rapidly, out the window. I get bored, I feel lazy, I usually have the mental energy to do things, but not the physical...and that's incredibly frustrating to me. So, even more than listening to my body's physical needs, such as food and water intake (and/or fasting), I'm really trying hard to listen to what this process is trying to tell me about surrender. As much as I really, really, really want to, I just simply don't have the physical energy to do all the things I want, and am excited to do right now. So, I must rest. I must yield. I must allow myself this time and use it wisely to listen and understand what other parts of me need healing. I've discovered that when I get bored in moments like these, it's really not for lack of things to do or think about. My feeling of “bored” is actually my ego jumping up and down, arms raised, pleading with me to find some distraction to fill my time with that, albeit may temporarily make me feel better, but is really just a diversion from dealing with deeper issues. I've finally put it together that I always feel the most “bored” and uncomfortable just before having a major emotional breakthrough...which seems to be what's been happening for me these last few days, in sickness. People keep asking me every morning - “How are you feeling?” And, it's been strange, because every morning, I haven't really been feeling physically better, (just sort of sick in a different way) but something within me usually rises up from a gentle, honest, calm place and before I know it, I have a beaming smile on my face and I'm responding with “I feel great!” I'm still recognizing my physical limitations with this sickness, but I feel like this time is the first time I've gone through a healing process from a cold with total, holistic awareness and healed from the inside out. Maybe my unconscious body/mind/emotional intelligence is more prevalent in this case than it ever has been in my past. I feel as though my body has taken this opportunity to intentionally slow me down from the distractions so that I could finally have the proper chance to process through all of this emotional stuff I've got going on. My body knew I wouldn't make that choice on any physically healthy feeling day...so it created an opportunity. Although feeling a little smacked down (courtesy of my own self)...I'm all ears. ...And, I'm learning. I'm growing. I'm healing.
26 November 2009
Happy Thankful Day
At this moment, on this day, in this month, in this year:
I am thankful to have been born into a body containing a healthy, strong and capable brain that has an ever increasing desire to learn and grow. More so, I'm thankful for every single one of you who have been, and continue to be my teachers along the way.
I am thankful to have been born into a body containing a healthy, strong and capable brain that has an ever increasing desire to learn and grow. More so, I'm thankful for every single one of you who have been, and continue to be my teachers along the way.
I am thankful to have been born into a body containing a healthy, strong and capable voice. A body which has experienced much and (among many other wonderful things) has learned to laugh, cry, dance, respect, feel, sing, love, think, do and be. More so, I acknowledge and appreciate that through my learned skills, abilities and my voice, that I am empowered to make a difference.
I feel blessed to have been born with a healthy, strong and passionate spirit which has the ability to perceive the abundant beauty on this planet with a sense of awe and wonder. More so, I feel humbled by an immense sense of gratitude to have received so much love, compassion and understanding in my life, and feel very fortunate to have been shown the multitude of ways to give back.
Most of all, I am simply thankful to be able to say: I am.
* * *
Much love, gratitude and appreciation to you all on this day, and every day this year.
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